Survey of Subway Station Payphones 2006

METHODOLOGY

This survey is intended as a follow-up to six previous NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign payphone surveys conducted between 1999 and 2005.

In November 2001 and again in August 2002, we released reports in which we tested all payphones in 100 randomly selected New York City Transit subway stations, as well as those in the 25 most-used stations. In addition, in February 1999, we released a report in which we tested the payphones in 100 randomly selected subway stations; in February 2004 we released a report on the testing of all payphones in 100 randomly selected MTA Metro-North, LIRR and New York City Transit stations. In December 2000 and again in February 2005 the campaign tested payphones in the 25 most-used subway stations.

This report documents the findings of two separate subway payphone surveysãone in which Straphangers Campaign tested all payphones in 100 randomly-selected subway stations and one in which we tested all payphones in the top 15 most-used subway stations. This report reflects the observations on the functionality of 1109 subway payphones at 112 New York City Transit stations.

The Straphangers Campaign trained and deployed thirteen volunteers over the period between June 6 and August 15, 2005. Volunteers were instructed to test every payphone in each of the 112 subway station sample and record all data on survey forms.

A telephone was rated as "non-functioning" if any of the following applied:

• The handset was missing or unusable;
• There was no dial tone;
• Surveyors were unable to connect to a 1-800 number;
• The coin slot was blocked;
• Coins deposited did not register; or
• The telephone would not return a coin after no call was connected.

All data was consolidated and analyzed in the aggregate in the period following the survey.

1. Survey of payphones in 100 randomly selected stations
Campaign staff selected 100 of the system's 468 stations at random by computer, and sent volunteers to each of these stations. For this portion of our survey, 808 payphones were tested throughout 100 stations. We found that 574 payphones (71%) were fully functional, significant at the .05 level within plus/minus 3%. A complete list of the stations selected can be found at table three.

In our 2002 report, we found that 69% of the phones tested in our sample of 100 randomly selected subway stations functioned correctly. The difference between the two survey periods is not statistically significant at the .05 level.

2. Survey of Payphones in 25 most-used subway stations
In the random selection of 100 subway stations, 3 of the most-used 15 stations were incidentally selected for observation. Thus, in order to complete the second portion of our report, Straphangers Campaign volunteers then additionally surveyed 12 of the remainder of the top 15 most-used stations.

In these 15 stations, a total of 401 payphones were tested. Of these, our surveyors found that 288 (72%) of these were found in functioning order. While this figure cannot be directly compared to findings in previous reports, it appears consistent with our 2002 and 2005 surveys of payphones in the top 25 most-used stations, in which we found 71% and 73% functionality, respectively. Among the 13 stations common to the 2004 survey and this one, we found that payphone functioning rates deteriorated in seven stations and improved in six. Each change is statistically significant.

3. Independent Auditing and New York City Passenger Environment Survey Two other regularly schedules surveys also measure payphone performance in MTA stations. New York City Transit conducts its own semi-annual telephone rating in its respected Passenger Environment Survey (PES). In the most recent data available ‚ second half of 2005 ‚ PES surveyors found 89% of phones were functioning properly. First half results indicate 91% operability.

Results cited in the PES are not comparable to those in this report, as PES surveyors do not use a coin to test the functioning of a telephone. PES rates a telephone as functioning if the surveyor notes an undamaged handset and is able to contact a specific 1- 800 test number.

A monthly audit conducted by a private company commissioned by the MTA found that 22% of telephones has "service affecting troubles" during June, July and August of 2005.

While methods used in measuring the functionality of each payphone do not substantively differ from those used by the Straphangers Campaign, these results are not comparable to those in this report. This is because they reflect payphone performance at a small number of subway stations in Lower Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx only.

4. Credits
The Straphangers Campaign wishes to acknowledge our volunteers who conducted this year's surveys: Al Leylo, Charity Carbine, Eddie Diaz, Emma Rabinovich, Leroy Rivera, Melinda Barrios, Melissa Reburiano, Pamela Misir, Paola Urgiles, Robyn Citizen, Sybil I. St. Hilaire, Toyin Ajasin and Yana Gontcharova.

news release | table 1 | table 2 | table 3 | chart 1

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